Home / Get Involved / Foundation / Foundation Programs / NCRF Heart of Service Award

NCRF Heart of Service Award

The NCRF Heart of Service Award, sponsored by the Jim Bouley family, recognizes court reporters and captioners who make a meaningful difference in the profession and their communities through service to others. Formerly known as the Jim Bouley Family Lifetime Award for Altruism, the award continues its longstanding tradition of recognizing exceptional service.

Read the award announcement.

Nominations for the NCRF Heart of Service Award are accepted year-round. Nominations received by April 16, 2027, will be considered for the 2027 award; any received after that date will be considered in the next cycle.

Award requirements

Eligibility criteria

  • The nominee must be an NCRA member in good standing from the following categories: Registered Member, Participating Member, Retired Registered Member, Retired Participating Member, or Retired Lifetime Member.
  • The nominee must have demonstrated altruistic behavior – unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others – in accordance with the following definition: Altruism is a behavior by a person that is not of benefit, or may even be harmful, to himself or herself but that benefits others. Altruism is not merely helping others; believing that you have a duty to help others, not that you owe others, is altruism – self-sacrifice, not self-interest.
  • The nominee must have been a working captioner or court reporter for at least 25 years, demonstrating career longevity and commitment.

How to nominate

  • Submit the online nomination form.
  • All information requested must be provided or the nomination is invalid and will not be considered.
  • You may nominate more than one person; however, you must submit a separate nomination form for each nominee.
Submit a Nomination
 

We wanted to acknowledge that, although how we live is always evolving, kindness and support are still critical to each person’s journey. We cannot do this without each other.

Michael Bouley, RDR

Award winners

  • 2026: No award given in 2026
  • 2025: Deborah A. Kriegshauser, FAPR, RMR, CRR, CRC, CLVS
  • 2024: Debbie Dibble, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC
  • 2023: Nancy J. Hopp, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CMRS
  • 2022: Sue A. Terry, FAPR, RPR, CRR, CRC
  • 2021: Laurel L. Eiler, FAPR, RDR
  • 2020: No award given in 2020
  • 2019: Mervin E. Vaughn, RPR (Ret.)
  • 2018: Marjorie Peters, RMR, CRR
  • 2017: Rosalie Kramm, RPR, CRR
  • 2016: Patricia Graves, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC
  • 2015: Dominick Tursi, CM
  • 2014: No award given in 2014
  • 2013: David Jackson, RDR
  • 2012: Irv Starkman, FAPR, RPR
  • 2011: Karen Yates, FAPR, RPR, CRR, CBC, CCP
  • 2010: June Otte, RPR
  • 2009: James Bouley, FAPR, RDR
  • 2008: Jan Garnett Lopez, RPR
  • 2007: Heywood “Woody” Waga, FAPR, RMR, CRR
  • 2006: Barbara Johnson, FAPR, RPR, CPE
  • 2005: Judith G. Werlinger, FAPR, RMR, CRR, CMRS
  • 2004: Glyn Earl Poage, RDR, CRR
  • 2003: Nancy Patterson, RPR, CRI
  • 2002: Harry J. and Florence M. Foster
  • 2001: Shirley Houston, FAPR, RPR, CLVS
  • 2000: Robert H. Clark, RPR (posthumously)
  • 1999: Frank O. Nelson, RPR, CLVS

Award history

In 1996, Josephine C. Aurelio made a generous donation to NCRF to honor her husband’s lifetime of altruistic service. NCRF established the Santo J. Aurelio Award for Altruism, which was first presented in 1999 at NCRA’s Centennial Convention. The award was later renamed the Jim Bouley Family Lifetime Award for Altruism and, in 2026, became the NCRF Heart of Service Award, sponsored by the Jim Bouley family. Although the name has changed, the award continues to honor court reporters and captioners who make a meaningful difference in the profession and their communities.

Contact

For questions about this nomination, email ncrfoundation@ncra.org.